I’m Chad

There are two things I am passionate about. Healthy normal-sized churches, and healthy pastors of those normal-sized churches.

For 10 years I’ve been stewarding Productive Pastor and helping others. It’s one of my greatest joys in ministry.

As a bi-vocational pastor and ordained elder in the UMC, I’m in the trenches with you. And I would love the chance to help you have the healthiest ministry you can.

 The Productive Pastor

Featured
Question & Answer : PP100
Question & Answer : PP100

For the official 100th episode of Productive Pastor I asked the internet for whatever questions about ministry productivity they might have. I answer a decent set here. Let’s jump into conversations about ideal schedules, reading, preaching preparation, and ministry burnout.

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A Conversation about Cal Newport (with Colin Bagby) | PP99.5
A Conversation about Cal Newport (with Colin Bagby) | PP99.5

Of all my favorite thinkers and writers about productivity, I resonate the most with Cal Newport. He teaches computer science in the IVY leagues, writes frequently about productivity, and podcasts, and creates resources for others to enhance their personal productivity.

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4 Meetings I Schedule With Myself
4 Meetings I Schedule With Myself

Part of strategic productivity is having the time to work on the things which matter the most. For me, one of the best ways to make sure this happens is having a handful of crucial personal meetings.

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Four Social Media Tips : PP98
Four Social Media Tips : PP98

To wrap up our month on Social Media strategy, let me offer 4 tips to continue to grow in your use of social media.

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Using Canva Better | PP97
Using Canva Better | PP97

Building a brand identity in Canva is a great way to cut down on image creation time AND have a more cohesive approach to your images for church social media. I’ve also got a great template for you to start from.

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Using Notion to Take Control of Announcements
Using Notion to Take Control of Announcements

Have you ever struggled to communicate activities and other parts of church life? Let me share a strategy I have been using for YEARS, and Notion makes it 10x easier.

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Writing

Blog
How things have changed in the local church (without really changing)
How things have changed in the local church (without really changing)

Do you feel like everything has changed in the local church? It has, but not as broadly as might think. Let’s talk about how different generations find positive culture in local churches, and how we can create welcoming places for people of all ages.

3 Theological Themes I was Obsessed with in 2023
3 Theological Themes I was Obsessed with in 2023

What parts of scripture and thinking about God occupied my mind in 2023? Here are the top 3.

Why I read the Bible every 90 days
Why I read the Bible every 90 days

For over a decade I try to practice the pattern of reading the Bible in 90 days. At least once a year. It is one of the most valuable practices I know of. Here is why it matters to me.

Goalposts for Congregational Growth
Goalposts for Congregational Growth

When a church reaches unsustainability, anxious conversations about growth begin. But how do you think and talk about congregational growth with contextual honesty AND healthy goal-setting? Getting a true representative picture of the current reality and mission field isn’t as hard as you think.

Declaring Church Size (and why it matters)
Declaring Church Size (and why it matters)

Nearly every church has changed its size in the last 3 years. But for those in decline, learning to define their current church size matters more than ever. It gives the congregation goalposts to understand as they attempt to grow into future sustainability.

What I Learned Skipping Church
What I Learned Skipping Church

I grew up in church. I was there easily 5 days a week. I’m a preacher’s kid! I remember thinking about folks who skipped church when I was younger. I don’t know if it was subliminal or if someone actually told me, but I viewed skipping church as a fast track to a stretch in the penitentiary. The folks who skipped church were the true dregs of society, sleeping off what was most certainly a debaucherous night worthy of Hugh Hefner and company.